[alcatraz]

Bloomberg reports that GM has set-up a small team to study Tesla and how it could hurt the large automaker. General Motors CEO Dan Akerson has pressured his post-bankrupt company to turn up the innovation, but he is also seems to be looking out for innovative new comers to the auto industry. GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky says, "Tesla could be a big disrupter if we're not careful."

The Tesla model S starts at $69,900 and it outsold the Chevrolet Volt, which starts at $35,995 with factory rebates. The next Volt model could be as much as $10,000 cheaper.

Akerson also thinks too much money is being spent on patenting futuristic technology instead of focusing on commercial application. Girsky explains, "The definition of success at Research and Development used to be: How many patents have you generated? We have a new definition of success: How much of your stuff actually goes into the car?

What types of things do you think this "small team" will be looking for? Is Tesla really that much of a threat to GM? Do you think GM has what it takes to innovate?

 

[dz28]

I don't see Tesla as a threat but more of a model to learn from. Fisker didn't get the job done yet Tesla did. Tesla is making money as a new OEM and in the oft overlooked electric segment this is important. I think Mr. Akerson needs to fully understand what they did and more importantly what they didn't do as part of bringing this model to market. Think about the delta between a $42,000 Volt and a $69,900 Tesla. Volt is a great car but loses money. Tesla is a great car but makes money. GM definitely needs to figure this out going forward as CAFE gets tough in the next couple of years.

 

[SpectroBR]

They should be. I catch myself seriously considering a Model S, even though it's 2x the price of a SS. I've been browsing the Tesla forums and the company seems right on track, so it's here to stay.

I like the Volt, but it's no match for a Model S. The Volt is an appliance, practical. It would be the same of comparing a SS to a Malibu.

 

[SSS]

Im convinced more and more every day GM wants to buy Tesla. Big Corps like the General have dedicated teams for competitive analysis and somehow Tesla slipped through the cracks? A dedicated team is set up to comb through the finest details of Tesla's existence....

I don't see Tesla as a threat but more of a model to learn from. Fisker didn't get the job done yet Tesla did. Tesla is making money as a new OEM and in the oft overlooked electric segment this is important.

Fiskar failing is interesting because on paper the two firms are nearly identical, the real difference is Elon Musk. GM wants to bring his mind on board not simply his company, thats the type of mind that can revolutionize a company, not to mention an EXCELLENT marketing tactic.

Oh and Tesla isn't actually making money as an OEM. They're making money from selling stock not from selling cars, investors see Tesla as without competition so they barrel into the stock hand over fist.

 

[dz28]

Im convinced more and more every day GM wants to buy Tesla. Big Corps like the General have dedicated teams for competitive analysis and somehow Tesla slipped through the cracks? A dedicated team is set up to comb through the finest details of Tesla's existence....



Fiskar failing is interesting because on paper the two firms are nearly identical, the real difference is Elon Musk. GM wants to bring his mind on board not simply his company, thats the type of mind that can revolutionize a company, not to mention an EXCELLENT marketing tactic.

Oh and Tesla isn't actually making money as an OEM. They're making money from selling stock not from selling cars, investors see Tesla as without competition so they barrel into the stock hand over fist.

Agreed; Wall Street often looks past the structural metrics and likes the bottom line. In this case I wish I had paid more attention to it!

 

[SuperSnake]

to me, tesla's are like the Mercedes Benz, Audi, etc of the Electric car world. If you're already going to spend $40k on a car that isn't all that practical as yet ....why not fork up the extra for a Tesla rather than a Chevy.

The Volt is boring.

Cadillac is GM's way to make premium EV's

 

[SSS]

to me, tesla's are like the Mercedes Benz, Audi, etc of the Electric car world. If you're already going to spend $40k on a car that isn't all that practical as yet ....why not fork up the extra for a Tesla rather than a Chevy.

The Volt is boring.

Cadillac is GM's way to make premium EV's

Cadillac should be the way to premium EV's with the new ELR but all the General did was slap a Caddy jacket on the Chevy Volt. Id be interested to see a SS Hybrid with electric motors at the wheels for gobs and gobs of torque right out of the hole. I mean that coupled with an LS3..... hehhhehhhhh

 

[alcatraz]

The Volt may not have done that well, but all reports about the Spark EV are positive. I think it may make more sense to build luxury EVs rather than affordable ones. People looking to buy EVs often times have more money, and this often means they want to buy luxury style vehicles. Until the cost of production of EVs can be reduced so there is a bigger profit margin, luxury EVs are the way to go.

 

[SSS]

The Volt may not have done that well, but all reports about the Spark EV are positive. I think it may make more sense to build luxury EVs rather than affordable ones. People looking to buy EVs often times have more money, and this often means they want to buy luxury style vehicles. Until the cost of production of EVs can be reduced so there is a bigger profit margin, luxury EVs are the way to go.

That's not necessarily true, people seriously interested in EV's are either super concerned for the environment or sick of $4/gallon gasoline (cali). Neither of those archetypes screams high dollar clientele.

But EV's could be the next it thing for the luxury market, so who knows...

 

[brianch]

Not interested in electric cars.

We aren't called petrol heads for nothing.

New breed or electro heads?

 

[SSS]

Not interested in electric cars.

We aren't called petrol heads for nothing.

New breed or electro heads?

tech fiends

 

[Don't Call Me Surely]

Seems like a good idea for GM to know what is going on with Tesla. I would assume that they try to know what's going on with every car company though. I'm not sure why it's big news that they have a team studying Tesla. Is this team different in some way from the rest of the market research that I'm sure GM engages in?

This news just will make it more obvious when GM rips off Tesla in some way.

 

[alcatraz]

Seems like a good idea for GM to know what is going on with Tesla. I would assume that they try to know what's going on with every car company though. I'm not sure why it's big news that they have a team studying Tesla. Is this team different in some way from the rest of the market research that I'm sure GM engages in?

This news just will make it more obvious when GM rips off Tesla in some way.

It will be interesting to see how this research affects GM's vehicles. GM will have to draw inspiration from Tesla without completely ripping them off. People don't like it when brands just copy each other. GM needs to come up with its own way of delivering the same forward thinking, energy efficient vehicles as Tesla. GM isn't doing bad in the EV market with the Spark (though its only available in Cali and Oregon,) but it really needs to ramp up the luxury if it wants to compete with Tesla.

 

[SSS]

It will be interesting to see how this research affects GM's vehicles. GM will have to draw inspiration from Tesla without completely ripping them off. People don't like it when brands just copy each other. GM needs to come up with its own way of delivering the same forward thinking, energy efficient vehicles as Tesla. GM isn't doing bad in the EV market with the Spark (though its only available in Cali and Oregon,) but it really needs to ramp up the luxury if it wants to compete with Tesla.

GM cant produce forward thinking, they're a bureaucracy. Tesla is Elon Musk. If I was GM i would bring him on board immediately at any cost, say $15.14 billion?

 

[chevypwr]

Well..... GM is working on their own EV projects they would be fine doing their own thing but purchasing tesla would give them an opportunity to start working in the premium EV car market.

But with a line up of the...

- Spark EV
- Cadillac ELR
- Chevy Volt

GM is already on the right track on their own

 

[AuggieDosta]

Although I'd never buy a Tesla it is one fine, and very fast vehicle. They did a great job on that car.

 

[alcatraz]

Well..... GM is working on their own EV projects they would be fine doing their own thing but purchasing tesla would give them an opportunity to start working in the premium EV car market.

But with a line up of the...

- Spark EV
- Cadillac ELR
- Chevy Volt

GM is already on the right track on their own

Is a Cadillac not in the premium market?

GM has some good EVs on the go, but obviously they think they are missing something that Tesla has. We will have to see how the Cadillac ELR does before I can give a more informed comparison of GM vs Tesla.

 

[SSS]

Not a fan of the ELR at ALL, its a chevy volt in a cadillac robe. Range sounds to be dismal and performance seems to be a joke, so much for a range topping halo car..

bring back the Cien, sorry make the Cien... I was expecting the ELR to pull heavily from the Cien, it seemed like a serious pitch to build Ciens was marooned by the bankruptcy..

 

[brianch]

Chevy SS V8.

Electric cars are not welcome in this forum.

 

[SSS]

Chevy SS V8.

Electric cars are not welcome in this forum.

dont be like that, electricity will be a big big part of the coming auto landscape. I've said this all along, when a maker is able to mesh electric and gas together into a performance package it will change everything. Being able to develop a road going form of KERS, although it shouldnt be driver activated, let the ECU decide when it needs extra jump.

You can get stupid torque from the low end and she'll still pull strong through the upper RPMs.

Besides we need EVs with all this CAFE hoop jumping going on. If you love V8s you should love electric cars just as much, its the only way chevy is able to sell the SS is becasue they have two (almost three) EVs that neutralize the SS v8s impact on CAFE